Blum Residence

Forest-Ocean Garden

Shinkai-tei 森海庭

Irvington NY

 

 

   The garden has two inter-connected parts: the Forest Walk, with many small trees, a water basin, and a stepping-stone path, and the Ocean Garden, with raked white sand and carefully positioned stones that symbolize a vast ocean shoreline.

   The design of the Forest Walk is based on the Japanese tea garden, roji, and acts as a passage from the main house to the studio.

   The Ocean Garden is based on Japanese stone gardens, karesansui. Sitting between the main house and the studio, it is a contemplation garden intended to be viewed from the adjacent buildings and pathways but not entered.